On the Solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul, at 9:30 am at St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis blessed the pallia (plural of pallium), taken from the Confession of the Apostle Peter and destined for Metropolitan Archbishops appointed during the past year. The pallium will then be imposed on each Metropolitan Archbishop by the Pontifical ...read more

What’s behind the frame? When Pope Francis is photographed during a papal trip, it’s more than just a simple snapshot. Researchers at the University of Missouri School of Journalism wanted to know what we’re actually seeing in these photographs. By looking at Pope Francis’s apostolic visit to Cuba, they found the cultural background of photojournalists ...read more

During the Holy Mass for the Canonization of Blessed Francisco and Blessed Jacinta Marto, Mons. Antonio Dos Santos Marto, bishop of Leiria-Fatima, greeted Pope Francis with those words: Greeting to the Holy Father from Mons. Antonio Marto, Bishop of Leiria-Fatima “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my ...read more

The highlight of Pope Francis’ apostolic visit to Fatima was the canonization Mass on Saturday morning, during which the two shepherd children, Blessed Francisco and Blessed Jacinta were proclaimed saints. During his homily the Pope said, “we can take as our examples Saint Francisco and Saint Jacinta, whom the Virgin Mary introduced into the immense ocean of ...read more

This evening the Holy Father went to the Chapel of the Apparitions in the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima where the Blessing of the Candles took place. After a moment of silent Prayer and meditation, the Pope blessed the candles, then he pronounced welcoming words for the pilgrims and introduced the Prayer of the ...read more

At 1:15 (EST), during his pilgrimage to Fatima, Pope Francis visits the Chapel of the Apparition, surrounded by a thousand children. After few minutes of silent prayer in front of the Madonna, he pronounces the Prayer below. At the end of it the Holy Father gives the Golden Rose as a gift to the Virgin ...read more

An interview with Fr. Gian Matteo Roggio On April 20, this year, a Consistory declared that two of the visionary little shepherds of Fatima, Francisco and his sister Jacinta Marto, would be proclaimed Saints on May 13, on the occasion of Pope Francis’s travel to Portugal, for the hundredth anniversary of the apparitions of Our ...read more

A political prisoner of the Communist regime for thirteen years, nine of which he spent in solitary confinement, Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan’s experience is a powerful testimony of faith in the Eucharist and in the power of forgiveness and the redemptive value of the cross. Cardinal Van Thuan’s writings and spiritual insights written in ...read more

This weekend, Pope Francis completed a two day apostolic visit to Egypt, a trip loaded with meaning and symbolism. In this post, you’ll find everything you need to know about the Pope’s visit and we begin with Italian producer Matteo Ciofi here: Find out what Pope Francis’ Trip to Egypt means. Pope Francis’ Itinerary On April 28, ...read more

Pope Francis’ final event in Egypt was a prayer meeting with clergy, men and women religious and seminarians. Read the full text of his prepared remarks: Your Beatitudes, Dear Brothers and Sisters, As-salamu alaykum! Peace be with you! “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice in him! Christ is forever victorious over ...read more